A S-Class Hunter With Great Agility - Chapter 131
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 131: Fox Mask (3)
“I’m not dead…”
I quietly appeared.
“Ahhh!”
Mei was startled and nearly fainted as if she had seen a ghost. Then she clutched her chest and let out a sigh of relief.
“Th-thank goodness…”
Ren also spotted me and opened his mouth.
“…! You’re safe.”
He seemed so moved that he even expressed his emotion. Come to think of it, he had been searching for someone this whole time.
‘So he was looking for me.’
I had forgotten to show my face while organizing my thoughts.
“…I’m truly relieved.”
I awkwardly turned my head away from Ren, who looked like he was about to shed tears.
Then Mei, who had composed herself first, asked a question.
“So, what happened to all this? They say the child returned safely too… We were definitely badly injured. I remember. But how did we get here in one piece?”
“Ah, about that.”
I briefly revealed the Mountain Lord, who had been in spirit form.
“Oh…!”
A tiger with a majestic aura appeared. He had a somewhat grumpy expression.
| Do you think this body is a mount? How do you ride me for transportation every time? |
“I asked my summoned creature for help. It seemed like something terrible would happen if we didn’t get treatment immediately, so I’m sorry but I brought everyone here without warning.”
When it rains, body temperature drops. It was an urgent situation where lives could be threatened.
The fact that they were able to receive timely treatment was largely thanks to the Mountain Lord.
“Oh my. So that’s what happened. Thank you so much!”
“We owe you another great debt. Thank you so much.”
Ren and Mei bowed their heads in greeting. Then the Mountain Lord clicked his tongue.
| You should be grateful. Look at this guy’s wrist. |
When he pointed toward me, Mei and Ren’s gazes reflexively shot over.
I hid my wrist behind my back, but the S-rank Hunters’ dynamic vision was incredible.
“What’s wrong with your condition?! It looks like you’re seriously injured…!”
“Th-this isn’t the time for this, you should get treatment right away, shouldn’t you?”
It did look serious. Not only was it severely swollen, but it had turned completely blue.
I said casually.
“I received emergency treatment. But whether they used poison or not, it’s strangely not healing well. They said there are limits with the medicine I currently have. It’ll probably take some time.”
‘For cutting off one wrist, I got off cheap with just this much.’
…Though the Bishop I saw earlier seemed to have both hands attached.
I’d have to think about what happened later. They might have used a Super Regeneration Potion.
“By the way, are you two okay? You were hurt worse than me.”
“No problem. It was at a level that could be treated with potions. I just lost consciousness for a bit due to blood loss.”
‘…What monster-like recovery power…’
Mei also spoke with a fuss, in a condition not much different from before.
“We’re fine, but Eun Hae-dam is the problem. If left alone, there might be aftereffects. But don’t worry! The guild I belong to has a potion warehouse! I can use them unlimited.”
“Uh…”
“I’ll send them directly to your accommodation today! ★”
Mei’s eyes shone with passion.
“Highest grade! ★”
“Th-thank you…?”
It was an unexpected gain. I was thinking I might have to use the Super Regeneration Potion I’d receive as payment for the dispatch if nothing else worked.
‘I should consider it a service fee and accept it.’
However, there was something I needed to correct.
“Could you possibly send it to Korea instead of the accommodation?”
“What? Oh, you’re going back?”
I nodded my head.
“Yes. I’m planning to return to Korea today if possible.”
“Did something… happen?”
Ren sensed the unusual atmosphere and asked back. Both of them probably had a different question they’d been wanting to ask since earlier.
‘About what happened with Fox Mask.’
It was remarkable patience that they didn’t ask about that directly right away.
I opened my mouth.
“Fox Mask won’t appear in Japan anymore.”
“What?!”
“Huh…?”
Ren swallowed dryly and said.
“By any chance… did you take care of him?”
“No. Unfortunately, that’s not it.”
I shook my head. Ren and Mei looked confused.
“…Then may I ask how you can be so certain? Even if he told you that directly, we can’t just believe it.”
I knew they wouldn’t believe me. Unless I captured Fox Mask and brought him here, there was no way to prove my words.
‘If you look at it badly, it would seem like I’m just making excuses and running away.’
But I absolutely had to return to Korea right now. It was an urgent matter.
‘To make them understand as quickly as possible, is this really the only way…’
I lowered my voice. And spoke seriously.
“Actually… I have a Prophecy Skill.”
Now, let’s try scamming some naive foreigners.
“I am a Prophet Hunter.”
[Quest Penalty Applied!]
Achievement Rate | 43.17%(-0.02%)
…I had my own circumstances for all this, damn it.
* * *
This was right after Fox Mask had fled.
“Huff, gasp…”
I gasped for breath as pain spread up to my shoulder. Then I hurriedly cast a skill toward my wrist.
Whoosh—
Cold ice wrapped around my wrist. It was a kind of cold compress, and fortunately the effect wasn’t bad.
“Phew…”
I caught my breath and wiped away the cold sweat.
‘What the hell is all this about?’
As the pain subsided, my mind started working again.
— Just what are you that you keep interfering with our business at every turn?
‘Our business.’ So that meant killing Japan’s Hunters was the Strange People Cult’s business.
‘Why?’
It was such an insanely large-scale act that I couldn’t even guess the reason.
‘Not enough information…’
Ordinary cults aim for money and expanding their influence for that purpose. But there were several contradictions to use that alone as their principle of action.
There was absolutely no financial benefit to be gained from killing high-rank Hunters from foreign countries.
‘Think logically, logically.’
If I couldn’t figure out the purpose, I should at least think about how to respond going forward…
…Logically?
Had I ever relied solely on logic to understand any situation up until now?
‘Why should I… bother?’
There was another way to resolve the situation. It was something only I could do.
“Release.”
I released the Mountain Lord’s Divine Descent Ritual. White Tiger’s form was revealed.
“Mountain Lord, please carry the injured people back. To the medical tent in the village, straight there.”
| …What about you? |
“I have something I need to do.”
The Mountain Lord pondered for a moment, then nodded.
| Very well. I shall do so just this once. |
“Thank you. …And Mountain Lord, if I may ask.”
I hesitated for a moment before asking my question.
“Could you tell me what you know about them? It would be of great help.”
| …I wondered why you weren’t asking. But you must vaguely understand as well. That I cannot answer you. |
“…As I thought. There are restrictions, aren’t there.”
| Yes. Something like that. |
The Mountain Lord murmured in a low voice with a groan.
| I’m sorry I can’t be of help. |
“No. I understand. It’s not such a simple matter, I’m sure. I’m not a child, and I have no intention of throwing a tantrum asking you to tell me what a deity chooses not to say.”
I shook my head.
A deity’s silence always has clear reasons. In shamanism, it was right for humans not to question further.
‘…It is the right thing to do… though.’
If the Mountain Lord couldn’t tell me, couldn’t I just ask another deity?
| May you gain what you seek. |
Unaware of my thoughts, the Mountain Lord said this and swiftly loaded Mei and Ren onto his back. Then he ran back the way we had come.
“….”
Swoooosh—
The rain was still falling.
Thud.
I sat cross-legged on the rainy earth ground.
‘There have been many strange things happening lately.’
In truth, spiritual power had long since disappeared from the world. Gods no longer responded to shamans, and even the common evil spirits gradually became invisible.
But…
These days, the gods always answer my call and lend me their strength.
I’ve been using talismans to exorcise souls from people’s bodies, and there have been several times when I felt a spiritual kind of ‘intuition’ that allowed me to predict future events.
‘It doesn’t even come close to the level when Grandfather was active, let alone when I was a child disciple.’
Still, this was definitely a sign that spiritual power was being revived.
I picked some flowers nearby. I arranged them neatly on the earth ground and carved letters on the fruit with the mirror cinnabar I had in my pocket.
Since I didn’t have proper offerings at hand, this was a temporary measure. However, what I had grown up eating and living on since childhood was the love of the local folk deities.
‘Please look favorably upon me…’
I soon straightened my posture and finished preparing for the fortune reading.
‘Though it is troubling that this is Japan.’
The energy might be weaker than performing this in Korea. However, if it’s not about the ground, then that problem would be solved.
Heaven is connected everywhere.
“…I humbly report to the heavenly deities.”
I began reciting the sacred text in a low voice.
It was the Heavenly Deity Sutra.
“Heavenly Jade Emperor, Heavenly Sovereign Great King, Sun Moon Star Deity…”
…
“Eight Fairy Maidens, Great Fairy Deity, Sun Moon Fairy, Fairy Attendant.”
Eight Immortal Maidens, Immortal Maiden Great God, Sun and Moon Immortal Maidens, Immortal Maiden Divine Children.
“…Yellow Turban Warrior, Yaksha Divine General, Five Direction Divine Generals.”
…Yellow Turban Warriors, Yaksha Divine General, Five Direction Divine Generals.
Reciting the sacred text with its familiar cadence brought peace to my heart. I also felt as though everything was finally returning to its proper place.
I squeezed my eyes shut and chanted the Heavenly Deity Sutra to the very end.
“—Descend swiftly.”
Divine the future of those who have sinned.
“Bestow divine records and sacred writings, grant miraculous divine powers—”
So that future may bring an end to all suffering.
“Om geup-geup-yeo-yul-lyeong sa-ba-ha.”
Om, swift as the law commands, svaha.
May it be accomplished swiftly and perfectly.
“Om geup-geup-yeo-yul-lyeong sa-ba-ha—”
I raised my head to look at the sky.
Drip, drop….
The rain stopped. The heavy downpour ceased falling.
‘…It’s done.’
There could be no clearer response from the Heavenly Deity than the movement of the heavens themselves.
“…Om geup-geup-yeo-yul-lyeong sa-ba-ha.”
I recited the phrase three times and finished the sacred text. Then I swallowed dryly.
Now… only waiting remains.
What I had earnestly wished for, the will to confirm the future I had sent through the Heavenly Deity Sutra. The Heavenly Deity would judge this and soon deliver an answer.
Jingle—
I finally lifted the Spirit General Sword and placed it in front of me. The silver blade reflected the cloudy sky above.
Soon…
Whooooooo—
The wind began to blow.
“…!”
My eyes widened. A strange reaction occurred where Fox Mask’s—no, the Bishop’s blood had pooled.
Bubble—
The red blood formed droplets and rose into the air. The blood then moved toward me.
Drip, swoosh…
The crimson liquid fell onto the Spirit General Sword. It danced and moved through the air as if writing letters.
Swish—
Chinese characters were carved onto the sword surface of the Spirit General Sword.
Fox, toward.
And…
Taebaek.
I shot up to my feet with a chilling feeling.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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